This paper summarizes several recent presentations and discussions mad
e before the IEEE Control Center Database Task Force. These presentati
ons have garnered a high level of interest among task force members. T
he intent of the paper is to disseminate these findings to a wider aud
ience, thereby focusing industry attention on critical issues affectin
g control center databases. The short note paper addresses new and evo
lving requirements placed on control center databases. Among the issue
s addressed are: data access, portability of applications, the need to
safeguard and protect mission-critical information, and the role data
objects may play in future databases.